Watercraft



April 9, 1940.

T. NAGlNSKAS WATERCRAFT Filed Ma 28, 1958 of the craft and impel the Patented Apr.v 9, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE d f The present invention relates to a' particular type of watercraft so designed as tov makelfor the maximum of efficiency. l

The main and primaryobject of this invention is to improve that portion of a watercraft which is below the surface level of the water to enable lsuch craft to acquire the maximum of speed with givenmo'tive power.l

Another object is the provision of adesign or shape which is in agreement conguratively with the shape of a iish and has for its object propulsion thru water by virtue of the physical principles residing `in the shape or structure of a sh.`

A further object of the invention is to provide a series of propellers so mounted as to accentuate the effect of the water pressure on the side same in a forward direction. l

Another object of the .invention is to have secondary propeller means in order to neutralize the turbulent action caused' within the water pressure stream so as tov obtain the maximum efficiency from the primary propellers for imparting motion to the craft.

Other and further objects may become apparent by reference to the accompanying drawing, and description where like symbols are used to designate like parts kand where;

"Fig 1 represents a front plan- View of that portion of my invention which is submerged below the surface of the water.

- Fig, 2 is a bottom plan view of my invention as shown in Figure 1. y

Fig. 3 is a transversal cross-sectional view on the line 3 3 of Figure 1.`

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectionalview on the line 4 4 of Figure 3.

By referring to the drawing Figure l and Figure `2 generally-show that portion of my water craft which is submerged below the water and resembling in shape a fish.

The craft generally designated by the numeral 8 is provided Withka rudder portion in the shape designated at 9 and which is suitably hinged by the hinge member IU to the main `body of the d craft'8. This craft 3 is provided with a suitable means of motive power, such as gasoline engine,

`Diesel engine, or any suitable marine engine which motive power is connected by virtue of its vtwo extended shafts 6 thru suitable bearings desmanner as the tail of a shmoves, the means l provided for rotation, however, being provided by 'a hinge member. Further examining Figure 1 we notice that there are two side iin members designated by the numeral I I, and by referring to Figure 2 it will be noticed that they are streamlined in l accordance with the shape designated by I2.

Y The fins Il furnish the general housingfor the propellers and Athe mechanism needed t0y drive the propellers I3 and I4 in the directions indicated. It will vbe noticed that'the vpropellers l0v AI3 respectively operate in opposite directions and the propellers I4 on eitherside of the craft operate in opposite directions. 'I'he respective structure on any one side rotates the propeller IS in the opposite direction to the propeller I4 on the 1U v mera128, which'houses'the main portion of the mechanism needed to transmit this` opposite rotation to thepropeller members. l v

The side of the boat or craft 8 has mounted 30 .thereon the bearing 1 and said bearing vis made up of two halves,` equipped with the flanges l1 which are clamped to the inner and outer sides lof the boat 8 by means of clamp screws I-and i clamp nuts I5. 'I'hese bearings l' house the driv- 35V ingshaftl 6 operated by the motive power 5, and this shaft 6 is connected to a bevel gear I8, and connected to the same -byy the pin I9, which makes the gear I8 integral with the driving shaft Bi The bevelgear i8 is meshed with the bevel gear 20 at right angles .to it, the bevel gear 20 being mounted on the hollow shaft 29 which has a reduced shoulder vportion 23 to fit 4the bevel gear 20, and is held in place by a set screw desig- This hollow shaft has natedby the numeral 2I. a` recess to receive packing 2l' and the iin I'I has a hub portion 24'which is to receive the packing nut 25 whichfurnishes a gland to prevent leakage of lthe water into the mechanism within the fin. i

The structure is further reinforced against leakage by the gasket member 26 which is clamped tightly between the boss provided on the n and the clamping nut member 25. The hub 24 `has a hole-22 to provide a running fit fory the hollow 55- shaft 29. The upper portion of the hollow shaft 29 has a hub 3B with recesses 3l into which are fitted respectively the propeller members I3 and keyed or pinned by virtue of the pins 32 to be held tightly and securely in place. This hollow shaft member further upward has a recess to receive gland packing 33 and receives an assembly of the shaft member 46 which has a housing 34 arranged in a like manner to-receive a smaller set of propeller blades designated by the numeral I4 and keyed by virtue of pins or keys 35 in like manner as the propeller blades designated I3 are secured respectively to the hollow shaft 29.

The housing SI5 is pinned to the shaft 4l by" virtue of pin 38. This shaft 46 can be seen extending all the way thru the hollow shaft 29 and attached to the bevel gear 3l by a pin 4I, the shaft l clearing straight thru the hollow shaft 29. The bevel gear 31 meshes with another bevel gear at right angles thereto designated by the numeral 39. The spur gear 39 mounted integrally with the bevel lgear 4i) meshes with the intermediate spur gear pinion A'I which in turn meshes with an internal ring or annular gear designated by 38, mounted in such a manner as to rotate freely within the clamping ring designated by the numeral d2', the said clamping ring being secured to the bottom of the n II by the screws and nuts 43.

y The clamping ring t2 has a recess 45 which is to receive a shoulder 44 on the annular ring gear 38 in order to permit it to rotate freely under the said holding ring member ill. without lifting out of meshing engagement. The gears 39 and 49 are rotatably mounted on studs 43 whereas the gear il is mounted on the stud 42. 'I'he annular ring gear 38 is also provided with bevel gear teeth on its outer periphery so as to mesh with the gear 2li. V`

The shaft member 6 turns integrally with the bevel gear I5 which meshes with the gear 29 and provides rotation with the hollow shaft .29 holding the propeller blades I3, which may be con-` sidered as right handed when looking at Figure 3. By the arrangement shown in Figures 3 and 4 it will be noticed that when the shaft 5 rotates away from the observer the gear 29 rotating in the same direction, will rotate the annular gear 3G which by virtue of internal teeth 49 will rotate the pinion lll. The pinion 41 rotates the spur gear ai? integrally mounted with bevel gear 40, which in turn meshes with the bevel gear 3l hence producing rotation of thepropeller blades I4 in a left handed direction of rotation or opposite to that of the propeller blades I3.

lIn like manner the directionof rotation is respectively reversed with respect to the opposite iin member assembly so that as heretofore explained the secondary or small propeller on the one side will rotate in the same direction of rotation as the larger or primary propeller on the opposing side. s

It will be noted that the propeller assemblies are mounted at a slight angle to the shaft 6, in other words on a center line parallel to the tapered end of the craft 8. The reason for this being to direct the propelling lines of force created by the propellers rearward and inward toward the craft, providing a pushing action at the stern or rear of the craft.

The operation of the craft and advantages are as follows:

Assuming that the boat, by means of the propeller and the motive power,-is moved in a forward direction as viewed in Figure 2 the nose or prow of the craft in cutting thru the stream will 'tend to create a pressure stream which will be forced toward the tapered rear end or stern of the craft and by being forced against the tapered stern will have a tendency to accentuate the forward propulsion of the craft. When the Water craft is propelled forward the nose or the prow of the submerged part of the craft designated by the numeral la tends to create lines of force which cpen outward and slide along the front portion of the prow tending, as it were, to create a vacuum at the rear portion or tapered end of the craft which draws the lines of force or pressure so generated so that when they strike the tapered side or portion of the boat the waves have a tendency to impel the boat or craft'in a more forceful manner.

The waves so generated are further accentu` ated in their action by the primary propeller blades heretofore designated by I3 which rotate and are so shaped as to forcel the water tangentially to the tapered section 8 of the water craft and which have a resulting effect of impelling the boat in a forward direction. The secondary or smaller propellers designated b-y I 4 are provided in order to receive the lines of force created by the waves generated by the nose i8 breaking thru the water and which tend toproduce a general turbulent effect. The propellers Ill confine the lines of force so generated to one plane of action namely the horizontal plane resulting in concentration of the force of propulsion to, most effectively propel the craft forward. 'Ihe propellers I3 turning each in an opposite direction insure stabilizing the craft.

The two sets of propellers are mounted one on each side to provide equilibrium to the craft eliminating the gyration lwhich might be caused by propellers turning in thesame or one direction. The rudder being in the ysame shape as the tail of a fish is operated in a similar manner as the rudder on any standard craft in order to provide a change of direction with respect to the prow of the craft. l l i I believe I have explained in succinct terms the nature and advantages of my particular type vof water craft, so those skilled in the artmayy nd it understandable and quite explicit.v Altho I showy a specific embodiment or construction I wish it understood that I reserve the right to such changes, modifications and alterations that come within the purview of the description, the accompanying drawing and the subjcined claims. v

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent isz v .l

1. A surface craft comprising, a completely submerged hullpcrticn shaped conguratively to resemble the shape of a sh, provided with hollow streamlined fin portions located on each side of the said hull portion approximately midway between the front and rear of said hull, and adapted to house gearing transmission means, also provided with suitable motive power means mounted within the said hull portion, and propeller means mounted on each side of the said craft adapted to be rotated thru said gearing transmission meansv in order to propel the craft in a horizontal plane. 2. A surface craft comprising, a completely submerged hull portion shaped configuratively4 side of the said hull portion approximately midl Way between the front and rear. of said hull,

gearing transmission housed therein, also pro- '15` vided with suitable independent motive power means adapted to drive the gearing in each of said fm portions, mounted within the said hull portion, a hinged rudder structure, and propeller means mounted toward the prow on each side of the craft to stabilize the same, said propeller means comprising a primary propeller and a secondary propeller to intensify the propelling action of the said primary propeller, the respective primary propeller o-n one side the craft rotating oppositely to its secondary propeller, and in an opposite direction to its mated primary propeller on the other side of the craft, said propeller means adapted to be rotated by said gearing transmission means in order to propel th craft in a horizontal plane.

3. A surface craft comprising, a completely submerged hull portion shaped conguratively to resemble the shape of a fish, provided with hollow streamlined fin portions located on each side of the said hull po-rtion approximately midway between the front and rear of said hulland adapted to house gearing transmission means, also provided With suitable motive power means mounted within the said hull portion, a hinged rudder structure mounted at the rear of the craft, and propeller means mounted on an axis of rotation approximately parallel to vthe tapered side of the stern of the craft and adapted to be rotated thru said gearing :transmission means in order to propel the'craft in a horizontal plane.'

4. In a surface craft, the combination with motive power means and propeller means, of a completely submerged hull shapedconguratively to resemble the shape of a fish, provided with hollow streamlined iin portions, gearing transmission means housed therein, comprising a driv-` ing bevel gear meshing with a driven bevel gear fixed to a hollow propeller shaft, a second propeller shaft journaled in said hollow propeller shaft having a bevel gear attached thereto,` an annular bevel gear adapted to mesh with the bevel gear secured to said hollow propeller shaft, also provided With internal spur gear teeth, and three intermediate gears: adapted to reverse the direction of rotation of the hollow propeller shaft with respect to the said second propeller shaft.`

5. In a surface craft, the combination with motive power means and propeller means, of a completely submerged hull shaped configuratively to resemble the shape of a fish, provided with hollow streamlined fin portions, gearing transmission means housed therein, comprising a driving bevel gear meshing with adriven bevel gear fixed to a hollow propeller shaft, a second propeller shaft journaled in said hollow propeller shaft having a bevel gear attached thereto, an annular bevel gear adapted to mesh with the bevel gear secured to said hollow propeller shaft,`

also provided with internal spur gear teeth, and# three intermediate gears adapted to reverse the direction of rotation of the said hollow shaft with respect to the said second propeller shaft, suitable independent motivepower means adapted to drive the gearing in each of said iin. portions, mounted within said hull portion, a hinged rudder structure, and propeller means mounted on each side of the craft to stabilize the same, said propeller means comprising a primary propeller and a secondary propeller to intensify the l propelling action of said primary propeller, the

respective primary propeller on one side of the craft rotating oppositely to its secondary pror` peller, and in an opposite direction .to its mated primary propeller on the other side ofthe craft,

said propeller means adapted to be rotated by said gearing transmission in order to propel the.l

craft.

6. In a surface craft,v the combination with motive power means and propeller means, of a completely submerged hull shaped coniiguratively to resemble the shape of a( fish, provided withy hollow stream-lined n portions, gearing transmission means housed therein, comprising a driving bevel gear meshing with a driven bevel gear l Xed to a hollow propeller shaft, a second propeller shaft journaled in said Vhollow propeller shaft havingv abevel gear attached thereto, an

annular bevel vgear having external bevel gear teeth adapted" to mesh with the bevel gear se-` cured to the said hollow propeller shaft, the said annular bevel gear also provided with internal spur gear teeth, anintermediate spur gearin mesh with the internal teeth of said annular bevel bevel gear, the said intermediate spur gear, and

the said compound gear structure adapted to reverse the direction of rotation of the said hollow propeller shaft with respect to the said second propeller shaft. n

TONY NAGINSKAS. 

